The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has been placed on indefinite suspension by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in order to conduct a thorough inquiry into the charges made against him while in office.
Willie Bassey, the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation's (SGF) Director of Information, said this in a statement on Wednesday.
The President has suspended the head of the anti-graft agency in response to serious allegations of abuse of office.
Bello Matawalle, the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, had claimed last month that Mr. Bawa had demanded $2 million in bribe money from him.
The EFCC, however, refuted Mr. Matawalle's claim.
In May, the anti-corruption organization disclosed that it was looking into a N70 billion fraud involving Mr. Matawalle.
Recall that from the EFCC's founding in 2003, the leadership transition has always been a source of controversy.
In similar circumstances, Mr. Bawa assumed control of the commission's operations in 2021 when his predecessor, Ibrahim Magu, was removed from office by President Muhammadu Buhari at the time due to charges of corruption.
The statement reads
"OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION
14th June, 2023
PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU SUSPENDS BAWA INDEFINITELY FROM OFFICE AS CHAIRMAN ECONOMIC & FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR, has approved the indefinite suspension from office of Mr. AbdulRasheed Bawa, CON, as the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to allow for proper investigation into his conduct while in office.
This follows weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.
3. Mr Bawa has been directed to immediately handover the affairs of his office to the Director, Operations in the Commission,
who will oversee the affairs of the Office of the Chairman of the Commission pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Willie Bassey
Director, Information
For: Secretary to the Government of the Federation. "
